UPDATE: HHRC DEVELOPMENT The views at Hocking Hills Retreat Center have been stunning this Fall! While the days grow shorter and the weather begins slowing things down just a bit at the camp, there are MANY things going on behind the scenes as we make preparations to continue our development. The construction documents for the new dining hall are nearing completion and should be ready to submit to the State of Ohio for permits by the end of the month. Steve Luchtenburg from VPL Architects has been amazing to work with! David McKnight has agreed to be the General Contractor for the dining hall construction project. We are grateful for David and The McKnight Group’s willingness to step in and help oversee this large-scale project. He brings great experience and knowledge that will be a blessing to SCO and HHRC. We will begin the process of receiving bids and proposals from potential contractors as soon as the new year begins. We appreciate your prayers that God connects us with the right contractors for the project. Our goal is to begin construction of the dining hall in early Spring of 2027 providing we can make our way through all the all the permits and necessary requirements to begin, and that we have adequate resources on hand. There are several existing utilities that need to be relocated and new or additional utilities that we will be tapping into or bringing to the new dining hall. We need more water, sanitary, and electric to make this project happen! We hope to begin relocating some of these before the end of 2026. Financially, we are still trying to sell the district office on Hoover Road. Please join us in prayer for that building to sell. With the sale of the district office, cash on hand, a loan that we are seeking, and continued pledge payments being made, we will be in a position to begin this project soon. However, we still need to raise additional resources. Please pray that the Lord will connect us with potential new individual donors or businesses that can help us reach our financial goals. Wouldn’t it be great to build this debt-free? The Lord has the resources! We are receiving resumés for a new camp director. Please pray the Lord guides us in this process. We are also remodeling “The White House” so that we can have an official HHRC Office. Finally, since this project belongs to all of us on the South Central Ohio District, there are a few ways you can help:
Please join us in prayer for HHRC’s development. If you would like to donate, or know someone that we could talk to about a financial gift, please reach out to me: [email protected] Share this project with your friends and with folks at church that may not be aware of the development vision we have for HHRC, and encourage them to get involved!
Thanks for the privilege you’ve given me to dream and work to make HHRC a place where lives are transformed for eternity! |
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Rob Paugh VP for Development, Hocking Hills Retreat Canter
Lead Pastor, Columbus Shepherd Church of the Nazarene |
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NEWS FROM ACROSS THE DISTRICT |
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West Ironton – Review
Congratulations to Pastor Lawrence (Tammy) Harris and the West Ironton Church Board on a very positive 12-year Church/Pastoral Relationship Review. We celebrate the spirit of unity that is in the church and God’s blessing upon the congregation.
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| Circleville Heritage Church
Thankful for the opportunity to worship with the congregation at the Circleville Heritage Church on November 1. |
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Two more evenings to join the SCO District Tour |
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NYI NIGHT OF WORSHIP All students are welcome to join us for a NYI Night of Worship this Saturday, November 14th at 6:30 p.m. We will be gathering for worship at the Hocking Hills Retreat Center. This is a free event, but we are asking that students bring a canned good that will be donated to food pantries around our district. Please contact Pastor Ryan Etterling for any questions at [email protected] |
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Columbus Northwest
Columbus Northwest – Pastor Sam (JoAnn) Simoes has announced his resignation, effective, November 22. We are grateful for the faithful service Pastor Sam has provided to the Northwest congregation. |
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Sharing Christmas Encouragement |
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The Advent season is quickly approaching, and many of our churches will be considering how they might encourage some of our ministerial families serving in smaller congregations on the South Central Ohio District. Last year, some congregations adopted one of our pastors and their families, and it really made a difference! This year we will be glad to work to match churches that want to be a blessing to pastors and families they could bless with a love offering or Christmas gifts. Or, maybe even provide a scholarship to the District Ministry Team Retreat for the next year.
Also, our Rutland Church continues to recover from a devastating flood a couple months ago. That congregation, and their Pastor Robbie Keene, would be grateful for any assistance (financial or volunteer labor) to help them get their facility back in operational condition.
If you are feeling called to give in this way this season, please email Darla Batson ([email protected]) by December 3, 2026, and we will match you up with a pastor and/or family! |
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Dreaming of Christmas
Last opportunity to order!
Looking for a meaningful way to celebrate the Advent season? Dr. Eddie Estep has written Dreaming of Christmas, an Advent devotional designed to inspire and enrich your Christmas journey. Whether you’re sharing it with your congregation, a small group, or your family, this devotional offers a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the hope, wonder, and promise of Christmas.
Order from The Foundry Publishing:
Dreaming of Christmas or Order from Amazon: Amazon.com : dreaming of christmas eddie estep |
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Know Your Benefits – Don’t Miss Out! |
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Did you know that 56% of pastors aren’t taking full advantage of the benefits available through NBUSA?
Join us for an informative Zoom session led by Kevin Gilmore, Director of Nazarene Benefits USA, as he walks you through everything you’re entitled to – and how to make the most of it.
This is your opportunity to gain clarity, maximize your benefits, and ensure you’re not leaving valuable resources on the table. |
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| PASTOR’S PRAYER RETREAT
Plan now for the Pastor’s Prayer Retreat that will be held at the HHRC next March 1-3, 2027. There is a limit to 25 attendees. Registration will be opening up before Thanksgiving. |
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“This Thanksgiving, let’s do more than give thanks for what God has placed in our hands, let’s use those blessings to help place the hope of Jesus into the hearts of others.” – Carol Lee Carpenter, District NMI President |
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Disaster Relief Teams Are Still Needed!
Will you and/or your church come together to help rebuild our Rutland church? No matter the amount of time or resources you can offer, it would be greatly appreciated.
Please contact Pastor Jerry Carpenter at [email protected] for more information or your availability to help with this great need. |
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| Winter Retreat 2027 January 22-24 Registration is Open! |
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Winter Retreat 2027 is coming up and registration is officially open! We’re excited for another opportunity to get our students together for a weekend of worship, community, and growing in their relationship with Jesus.
Here’s everything you need to get your students signed up: Registration Link: 2027_Winter_Retreat_Info_Forms.pdf
Click here for the Winter Retreat Information Packet. |
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Second Quarter Reports
Highlighted this week:
“Installed a new playset for children.” – Oak Hill
“We just finished another summer of Camp Hosanna. We hosted 105 elementary kids for summer day camp. It’s a blessing to both the children and the pastors.” – Columbus Northwest |
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| Remember our Rutland Church (Pastor Robbie Keene) as they recover from flooding, and deal with cleanup of the church facility.
Remember our SCO District Nazarene Mission Team (W&W), serving in Jamaica, November 7 – 14.
That God will help the South Central Ohio District start churches, strengthen churches, and develop leaders.
Pray with us that God will help us plant many new congregations in the next 5 years, both within the I-270 outer belt and across the district. Who might God be calling? Where might God be calling?
The Next Yes… for yourself, for your church, for your district. |
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| Belpre – Rev. Keith Hostutler, Interim Pastor Circleville Heritage – Dr. Mark Fuller, Interim Pastor Columbus Northwest – Dr. Dennis King, Interim Pastor (effective November 23) |
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